Baseball Hall of Fame

An article in today's newspaper brought this interesting topic up yet again. Who belongs in the Hall of Fame, but hasn't been inducted?

What criteria? Stats alone? What about defense? (Mazeroski?) Longevity? (Early Wynn is in for 300 wins, but he had just about as many losses?) (Koufax? Who had only five years when he was, unquestionably, the best in baseball, maybe ever...as Mantle said, striking out yet again in the '63? Series, "How're we supposed to hit that shit?")

What about the pariahs? Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose? What about the performance-enhancing drug users, when their times come? Does character count? If so, numbers notwithstanding, consider Ty Cobb (how many careers did he try to end with his antics?).

Andre Dawson? Roberto Alomar? Lee Smith? Bert Blyleven? And, closer to home here, what about Alan Trammell and Jack Morris? If Ozzie Smith was a first-round inductee, how can Trammell be left out? Style v substance? Do Lou Whitaker and Lance Parrish deserve consideration?

What voter could have left Nellie Fox off his ballot, yet it took the veterans' committee to induct him? And, besides, what kid from back then didn't use a Nellie Fox model bat!?!?

One of the most egregious oversights is Ted Simmons. Check his numbers and compare them with the other H of F catchers of his era--he does very well, thank you. (OK, OK, that's a personal choice, but still legit!).

Others???